Catholic Memorial students return from Texas border trip

Wednesday

Between the 500 asylum-seekers who passed through the doors of the Catholic Charities Respite Center in McAllen, a 5-year-old girl from Honduras weaved her way through the at-capacity lobby on Nov. 6.

She approached a nearby hallway. With one hand, she tugged the pants of a volunteer who sat on one end of an invisible language barrier. With her other, she pointed her finger to the floor.

The volunteer caught her gaze. Rubbing his belly, he gestured to see if she wanted food. The girl shook her head. Once more, she pointed to the floor. Her shoes, not her appetite, needed attention.

Shoelaces, she wanted. Not a bowl of soup. Not a toy — just some string to keep her shoes from falling off her feet. The day before, Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers confiscated her only pair while crossing the border along the Rio Grande River.

John Nelson, Eddie Leahy, Jack Facey, Lucas Gutz and Connor Nelson from West Roxbury’s Catholic Memorial School all stood in the place of that same volunteer during their immersion trip to Brownsville, Texas, that week. Each confronted the harsh reality facing refugee families seeking asylum on the U.S.-Mexico border, not to mention dozens of lace-less shoes.

The countless stories of those fleeing Central America in the hope of a better life in one of America’s poorest cities left an unforgettable impression on each student.

“Our group encountered a 14-year-old boy who spoke no English,” said freshman Lucas Gutz. “The boy was a quick learner and asked us how to say the days of the week, the months and the alphabet. All the children had smiles on their faces and played with toys as any normal child would do despite their own dire circumstances.”

The trip, a part of CM’s Blessed Edmund Rice Service Initiative, gave all five boys an opportunity to work alongside fellow students from Christian Brothers high schools Bishop Hendricken, Brother Rice and Iona Prep.

Over the span of eight days, the students served at the Catholic Charities Respite Center in McAllen and La Posada Providencia of the Lower Rio Grande Valley. While the McAllen respite center provides short-term relief for refugees released by ICE agents, La Posada offers long-term shelter to those seeking legal refuge in America according to the Sisters of Divine Providence.

“Even though the refugees were extremely tired, they still managed to say ‘thank you’ and even give me a smile,” added Lucas. “In the worst time of their lives, they were grateful to have a helping hand and to be treated with respect and dignity.”

In between visits to both sites, the students celebrated Mass at Our Lady of Guadalupe School in Brownsville. The school, sponsored through the Christian Brothers network, provides tuition-free education.

Led by Brother Stephen Casey, chaperones from each school lectured the students on the ins-and-outs of the American immigration process at the end of each day. Presentations on asylum, DACA, advocacy and scripture provided context on the grueling process. Within the framework of Catholic social teaching on human dignity, each student developed a sense of compassion for those they served.

“[Students] come to learn a story from our brothers and sisters making their way through our southern border to the United States for reasons of immigration,” said Brother Casey. “They work first to help and understand human dignity for all.”

A cookout on South Padre Island united the four schools before their week of service. Breaking into two groups, each student presented how his ancestors immigrated to America to build a sense of comaradery.

“A sense of brotherhood grew between all of us,” said junior John Nelson, who attended the trip for a second consecutive year. “I really enjoyed every second I spent with them. We all worked hard and everyone just had fun whether it was working on a project or playing with some of the kids who we met at [the Catholic Charities Respite Center] and La Posada.”

Now in its fourth year, the immersion trip to Brownsville included a visit to the Basilica of Our Lady of San Juan and the wall separating the U.S. and Mexico at the edge of Brownsville.

From there, students returned to Boston with a heightened social awareness. They returned with an understanding that their service provides a small band aid to a gaping hole in a fractured immigration system.

They returned knowing that those who risk their lives crossing the border need empathy and compassion, not hatred. They need advocacy, not ignorance. A warm meal and a loving embrace.

And shoelaces, of course. Which, as the students learned, said all the above.